STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3689

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 725, 726, 727, 728

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 725, 726, 727, and 728, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Natural Area Reserves System Commission

 

G.M. No. 725

ARTI MICHELLE CLARK,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020;

 

G.M. No. 726

JONATHAN PRICE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020;

 

G.M. No. 727

ROBIN NEWBOLD,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020; and

 

G.M. No. 728

THOMAS RANKER,

for a term to expire 06-30-2018,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Arti Michelle Clark, Jonathan Price, Robin Newbold, and Thomas Ranker to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Natural Area Reserves System Commission.

 

ARTI MICHELLE CLARK

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Arti Michelle Clark from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Kauai Invasive Species Committee, and twelve individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Clark's experience as a Kauai Partnerships Biologist in the United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office; commitment to public service; and proven leadership qualify her for appointment to the Natural Area Reserves System Commission.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Clark works with various partners including the Kauai Watershed Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, Department of Land and Natural Resources, The National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kauai Invasive Species Committee, Plant Extinction Prevention Program, and others on a daily basis.  Her accomplishments include acceptance into the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Stepping Up to Leadership Program; recognition by the Hawaii Invasive Species Council and Legislature for outstanding efforts in coordinating detection and control of mongoose on Kauai; securing over $2,500,000 in federal and matching funds to benefit over 8,500 acres of important forested habitats for several listed species on Kauai; recognition as the Kauai Invasive Species Committee Most Valuable Partner for 2014; and assisting the Department of Land and Natural Resources in finalizing the Kokee and Waimea Canyon State Park Master Plan.  Your Committee further finds that Ms. Clark has been nominated for appointment to the Natural Area Reserves System Commission based on her knowledge and experience in the scientific field of ecology and willingness to serve the public.

 

JONATHAN PRICE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Jonathan Price from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and three individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Price's experience as an Assistant Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, commitment to public service, and proven leadership qualify him for reappointment to the Natural Area Reserves System Commission.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Price has served as a member of the Natural Area Reserves System Commission since 2012 and has over twenty years of experience in native Hawaiian ecosystems.  He is a member of the Big Island Invasive Species Committee Executive Committee and the Laupahoehoe Advisory Council for the Hawaii Tropical Experimental Forest.  He has previously served on the Boards of Directors of Friends of Hakalau Forest and Hawaii Organic Farmers Association.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Price has been nominated for reappointment to the Natural Area Reserves System Commission based on his knowledge and experience with native Hawaiian ecosystems and willingness to serve the public.

 

ROBIN NEWBOLD

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Robin Newbold from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Maui Ocean Center, and six individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Newbold's experience as a Marine Educator and Researcher, commitment to public service, and proven leadership qualify her for reappointment to the Natural Area Reserves System Commission.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Newbold has served as a member of the Natural Area Reserves System Commission since 2012.  She is the Co-Founder and Chair of the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, a member of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, and former member of REEF in Hawaii and the Pacific Whale Foundation Coral Reef Project Scientific Dive Team.  Ms. Newbold indicated in her personal statement that her goals are to contribute knowledge and experience to the protection of Hawaii's natural resources; promote scientific research and monitoring while honoring cultural traditions; increase public awareness of the natural area reserves and their importance to the State; and represent sensitive issues at Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve and its marine-related issues.  Your Committee further finds that Ms. Newbold has been nominated for reappointment to the Natural Area Reserves System Commission based on her knowledge and experience in the scientific field of marine biology and willingness to serve the public.

 

THOMAS RANKER

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Thomas Ranker from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and three individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Ranker's experience as a Professor of Botany at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, commitment to public service, and proven leadership qualify him for appointment to the Natural Area Reserves System Commission.  Your Committee notes that Dr. Ranker has extensive experience with research, identifying botanical specimens, and guiding graduate students; and is the only scientist in the State whose research focuses specifically on the biology, ecology, conservation, and evolution of ferns and lycophytes, which often comprise a large part of the biomass of Hawaii's ecosystems and are critical to ecosystem function and watershed management.  He previously served as the Program Director for the National Science Foundation, Division of Environmental Biology, Systematics and Biodiversity Science Cluster in Arlington, Virginia.  He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Fern Society, American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Association for Tropical Biology & Conservation, Botanical Society of America, International Association for Plant Taxonomy, International Association of Pteridologists, Society for Conservation Biology, Society for the Study of Evolution, Society of Systematic Biologists, and The American Society of Naturalists.  Your Committee further finds that Dr. Ranker has been nominated for appointment to the Natural Area Reserves System Commission based on his knowledge and experience in the scientific field of botany and willingness to serve the public.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture,

 

 

 

____________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair